Residents of an apartment building in Banana Island were recently rescued after being trapped inside an elevator for more than an hour.
The rescue was carried out by officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The incident became widely known after a video circulated on social media showing the trapped residents calling for help. In the video, the people inside the elevator looked very worried and uncomfortable. They were sweating and repeatedly asking for someone to help them get out.
According to a social media user who shared the video, the incident happened in an apartment complex close to Banana Island School Apartment. The person said the residents had been stuck in the lift for about 40 minutes when the video was recorded.
They also said the trapped residents tried to contact the landlady’s daughter to report the problem. However, they were told that the building management would look into the situation.
In the video, one of the residents explained that they were finding it difficult to breathe inside the elevator. They said they had been trapped for a long time and were worried because no immediate help had arrived.
Later, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that the residents were rescued after emergency teams received a distress call. He explained that LASEMA quickly responded to the situation.
The rescue operation involved several emergency agencies working together. These included the Federal Fire Service, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Through their joint efforts, the trapped residents were safely removed from the elevator.
After the rescue, the affected residents were checked at the scene to make sure they were safe and calm.
Oke-Osanyintolu also advised people living in Lagos to report faulty or damaged elevators to the proper authorities.
He said residents should inform the safety commission or the fire services so that any problems with lifts or building equipment can be fixed quickly and safely.
